On the island of Goshi, The eastern edge of the Fire Nation

Tania leaped from her window and landed quietly on the stone floor of the village's walkway. Using a flame she produced from her hand as a guide she walked the streets of Goshi, trying to make no noise. Three times she was forced to extinguish the flame and hide behind threes or buildings as patrol men wondered the streets. By the time she was halfway to the docks, she was talking to her self, trying to convince herself to go through with the plan. "Come on Tania, the war is wrong, father won't understand. Fire can save as well as take lives. Come on Tania, Elle needs me to go with her, come on Tania, let's keep walking. It's not like you'll miss this place anyway." She continued to walk, this time without disruption, and soon reached the docks. A lone girl, also with black hair, was waiting for her near a small boat. Tania's hair was long, halfway down her back, but this girl had short, curvy hair with bangs on one side. She was also much taller and had more muscle tone.

"Tania, you're late. Now, come on, the sooner we leave the better." Her voice was tough and worn, and her words were swift and unchangeable.

"Elle, I'm scared"

"Don't be Tania, I'll protect you. Just think of it as another adventure. And besides, you're the greatest young fire bender in this village, you're safer then I am right now. Well, almost," she smiled.

"Elle, I… well you know…"

"Yeah, yeah, you don't' like your bending, well right now let's just set off for the Earth Kingdom," her smile had vanished. "The moons in place, and there are almost no patrolling navy ships, it'll be fine, now get in!" she ordered.

Tania smiled and entered the boat, sitting in the back. Elle got in, and using an ore, kicked the boat away from the dock and they drifted out into the sea.

For the longest time, they sat in silence as the boat moved with the current towards the Earth Kingdom, until Tania finally broke the silence.

"Elle, are you going to miss it?" her voice was sad and filled with dread.

"Tania, that village deserved to burn, and had I learned fire bending I would burn it my self. I will never forget what that village, no what our great Fire Nation has done, and now, I ask you my friend, will you miss it?"

"I… I don't know. I mean, I don't want too, but I don't think I am going to be able to not miss it. I mean, it was our home."

"Was, our home"

The silence had once again fallen among them, and for hours they now fought against the harsh currents of the water. When the rapids had finally settled, Elle noticed the sadden look on Tania. "Elle, they say, that water benders are there strongest when the moon is high, and that fire benders are at their strongest when the sun is up and blazing. I mean, that's understandable, but, do you remember in school, when they told us that the fire nation was the strongest, the greatest, and most powerful?"

Tania nodded.

"I don't think that is correct," continued Elle," because, fire benders can only control flame. And fire is never constantly there. But, look at earth benders. The earth is everywhere, well, almost everywhere, "she glanced at the ocean as the current guided the boat, "and without the earth, we would all sink into the sea. I mean, we live on the earth. And when it comes to water benders, well just look. The oceans, the rivers, the ponds, the well water, it allows us to live, and get from nation to kingdom, to nation. And, water benders can even control ice, snow, water, and supposedly steam as well. And, a water bender can extinguish flame, but, can a fire bending master stop the rain?"

"Elle," Tania spoke with a fire in her voice, "Elle that may be true. But, ice and water, and snow make you cold, and it can kill. Fire, when used correctly, can warm the soul, and the body. And without the sun, there is grass, there are no flowers, many things would die sooner then they would die without water. But, I really think they are all equal. I mean, earth gives us a place to live on, water gives us something to drink, fire gives us something to warm us by, and air gives us something to breathe. Take any away and we would die."

'Tania, that's exactly why this war is terrible."

The night grew cold, and the girls were tired. They drifted to sleep a hundred times that night, but always awoke within minutes. Tania could not start a flame, since the boat was wood, and the blankets had fallen into the water when they were in the currents. So the girls sat together, sharing each others warmth. Soon, they fell asleep.